Paper clip holder

ABSTRACT

A paper clip holder having a clip storage loop with a left portion ending in a wrapped element encircling a shank, the shank having a lower head and an upper eye and movable with respect to the wrapped element, and the storage loop having a right portion culminating in a retaining loop with a left portion smaller than the shank lower head, a restricted portion passing the shank, and a right portion enlarged to pass the shank lower head whereby the storage loop ends may be separated to permit loading the storage loop with paper clips.

United States Patent [1 1 McGahee PAPER CLIP HOLDER [75] Inventor: Welbourne D. McGahee,

Melbourne, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Loop-A-Line, Inc., Melbourne, Fla.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 448,163

[52] US. Cl. 24/73 C; 24/261 PC [51] Int. Cl. A44B 21/00 [58] Field of Search... 24/3 K, 73 CF, 73 C, 261 C,

24/261 R, 261 PC; 224/45 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,027 10/1933 Paradun 24/261 R 3,016,591 1/1962 McWhorter et a1. 24/261 R Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmWarren E. Ray

[ ABSTRACT A paper clip holder having a clip storage loop with a left portion ending in a wrapped element encircling a shank, the shank having a lower head and an upper eye and movable with respect to the wrapped element, and the storage loop having a right portion culminating in a retaining loop with a left portion smaller than the shank lower head, a restricted portion passing the shank, and a right portion enlarged to pass the shank lower head whereby the storage loop ends may be separated to permit loading the storage loop with paper clips.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 3,911,533

Fig.

PAPER CLIP HOLDER BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a paper clip holder, usually made with small gage wire with springy characteristics, having a clip storage loop with a left portion culminating in a wire wrapping encircling a shank, the shank having a lower head and an upper eye and being movable up and down with respect to the wrapping, and a right storage loop portion culminating in a retaining loop with a configuration whereby the retaining loop may be separated from the shank for loading of paper clips and reengaged for removing the clips one by one in a novel fashion.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a paper clip holder having a novel method of removing the clips.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a paper clip holder with a novel removal feature which is relatively simple, reliable, easy and economical to make, and effective and satisfactory in use.

Other objects and advantages will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows the paper clip holder in the disengaged position for loading clips;

FIG. 2 depicts the paper clip holder in the engaged position with a clip in the initial position for removal; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 with the clip in a final position for removal.

Similar reference numerals are applied to similar elements throughout the drawing;

DETAILED DESC RIPTION FIG. 1 shows the paper clip holder in a disengaged position whereby the clips may be loaded onto the clip wire storage loop 1 by feeding the paper clips over the retaining loop generally indicated by the numeral 4. The conventional paper clip 15 is provided with one end having a single bend 16 which normally will be in the position shown in FIG. 1. While the paper clips may be engaged in the reverse procedure from withdrawing the clips, as afterward described, it is believed desirable to load the clips with the storage loop disengaged when a large number of paper clips are to be stored. The storage loop includes a left portion 2 which culminates in a wrapping 3 encircling a shank 12 movable in the wrapping 3. The shank 12 is provided with a head 13 on the lower end and an eye member 14 on the upper end thereof. It will be appreciated that the eye 14 could be similar to the head 13 or of some other geometrical shape if desired. The right portion 10 of the storage loop culminates in a retaining loop 4 including a left portion 5 smaller than the shank head 13 so as to retain the latter when engaged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, reduced portions 6, 7 which will permit the shank 12 to pass horizontally therebetween, and back and front enlarged portions 8, 9 permitting the shank head 13 to pass vertically. The back portion 8 ends in an eye 11 encircling the storageloop right portion 10.

In FIG. 2 the shank head 13 has been passed down through the opening defined by the back and front portions 8, 9 of the retaining loop 4, and the shank 12 has been moved through the reduced opening defined by the reduced portions 6, 7 to the position shown. Also, the paper clip 15 has been moved along the storage loop right portion 10, over the retaining loop 4 and shank head 13, and into the position shown in FIG. 2. The single bend end 16 of the paper clip 15 is preferably in the position shown although it is possible to remove the clip with ends reversed.

The paper clip is removed as shown in FIG. 3. From the position in FIG. 2 the clip end 16 is passed through the retaining loop 4, over the shank head 13, and withdrawn upward. While the procedure is simple it is also intriguing to users. While the reverse procedure may be used to load the storage loop it is believed that most users, as mentioned before, will be inclined to load the clips by disengaging the retaining loop from the shank.

While for purposes of description I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paper clip holder comprising a storage loop (1) for paper clips, a left portion (2) of said storage loop having a wrapping (3), a shank member (12) slidable through said wrapping, a lower retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member and an upper retaining means (14) on the upper end of said shank member, a right portion (10) of said storage loop culminating in a retaining loop (4), said retaining loop including a left portion (5) smaller than said retaining means on the lower end of said shank member, said retaining loop (4) including a right portion (8,9) larger than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member whereby said lower end of said shank member may be passed vertically therethrough, said.

retaining loop (4) further including means (11) encircling said right portion (10) of said storage loop for a connection therewith.

2. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower retaining means on the lower end of said shank member (12) comprises a spherical-like head member (13).

3. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1.

wherein said upper retaining means on the upper end of said shank member comprises an eye member (14).

4. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop (1) is made of wire.

5. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop (1) retaining loop (4) and said shank member (12) with said lower retaining means (13) are disengageable for loading paper clips and engageable for storage and removable of clips.

6. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paper clips (16) are removed by moving said paper clips along said right portion (10) of said storage loop( 1 over said retaining loop (4), then moving one end of said paper clips through said retaining loop (4), over said lower retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12), and then removed upward.

7. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining loop (4) includes a restricted portion (6, 7) between said left portion (5) smaller than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12) and said right portion (8, 9) larger than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12) whereby the said shank member may be passed from said left portion (5) to the said right portion (8, 9) and back again. 

1. A paper clip holder comprising a storage loop (1) for paper clips, a left portion (2) of said storage loop having a wrapping (3), a shank member (12) slidable through said wrapping, a lower retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member and an upper retaining means (14) on the upper end of said shank member, a right portion (10) of said storage loop culminating in a retaining loop (4), said retaining loop including a left portion (5) smaller than said retaining means on the lower end of said shank member, said retaining loop (4) including a right portion (8,9) larger than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member whereby said lower end of said shank member may be passed vertically therethrough, said retaining loop (4) further including means (11) encircling said right portion (10) of said storage loop for a connection therewith.
 2. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower retaining means on the lower end of said shank member (12) comprises a spherical-like head member (13).
 3. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper retaining means on the upper end of said shank member comprises an eye member (14).
 4. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop (1) is made of wire.
 5. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop (1) retaining loop (4) and said shank member (12) with said lower retaining means (13) are disengageable for loading paper clips and engageable for storage and removable of clips.
 6. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paper clips (16) are removed by moving said paper clips along said right portion (10) of said storage loop(1), over said retaining loop (4), then moving one end of said paper clips through said retaining loop (4), over said lower retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12), and then removed upward.
 7. A paper clip holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retaining loop (4) includes a restricted portion (6, 7) between said left portion (5) smaller than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12) and said right portion (8, 9) larger than said retaining means (13) on the lower end of said shank member (12) whereby the said shank member may be passed from said left portion (5) to the said right portion (8, 9) and back again. 